FranceReport At Lyon there is still hope


Lyon Airport has reported a 1.8 percent decline in flown cargo – down to 26,637 tons – for the first eight months of 2012 when compared to the results for the same period of 2011. This mirrors similar figures


for last year when the airport witnessed a 2.2 percent decline on flown cargo against the pre- vious year. Eric Burdin, cargo manager


at Lyon Airport, said: “We did indeed see a decline in the last part of the year (2011), when our tonnages, especially for inte- grators, are high. But it looks like there will be no peak season for 2012.” Commenting on this year, Burdin added:


Burdin - new Emirates passenger service offers freight potential


“So yes, there’s a slowdown but August really was slow at Lyon. Things should shape up a bit by the end of October. An additional flight by DHL which was temporarily interrupted is now back. Last year saw express cargo at the airport produce its best tonnage since 2006, and for this year-to-date we are up 0.3 percent.” However, Burdin is happy to report that Emirates will be launching a new passenger


service running between Dubai and Lyon: “It’s a passenger ser- vice but as the aircraft should be an A340-500, the belly capacity on each flight is expected to be somewhere around 16-18 tons. “As this new service will fly


five times a week, the available lift will be interesting, especially if you consider the rich and extensive network provided by Emirates beyond Dubai.” Change is coming to Lyon


and there is work in progress with several operators on the development of new cargo ter- minals. “We are currently working on several projects, it’s a


little too early to tell you more but some of these should be running and operational by 2014,” according to Burdin. Besides this, Lyon airport has been given the


green light for a new apron with more freighter stands, which will be 747-8 compliant, with the work due to begin in March 2013. “The new terminals will have direct access to


this new apron, which will bring more capacity with four B767 and two B747-400 stands,” concluded Burdin.


French GSA’s Eastward expansion


Despite opening three offices in India, and establishing a pres- ence in Vietnam, Hong Kong and Niger, Paris-based general sales agent (GSA) ECS group is not looking to slowdown its glob- al expansion, with China firmly in its sights, according to ECS president Bertrand Schmoll. “The ECS strategy is not to open an office in a new market just


to be able to say we’re there. We make an investment when we see the opportunity to build a real ECS office with a reasonable level of business activity and to provide the level of services that enables us to gain a foothold in the market,” he said. Schmoll added: “We are living in a world of uncertainty and


going into 2012 everyone was concerned about what would happen to business levels. In fact, for ECS 2012 has been a stable year on a par with our record performance achieved in 2011. We have probably outperformed the market for the airlines we rep- resent.” New contracts across its worldwide network, have been the


main contributing factor to the group’s sustained performance levels in 2012. “We have won a large number of new contracts. What is important is that airlines continue to


Schmoll - we have won a large number of new contracts


outsource their air cargo sales activities and that we are recognised by them for the quality of our service,” said Schmoll. ECS Group’s investment in a new cargo airline, Niger Air Cargo, is going well, he said, and it


plans to develop Niamey as a hub airport. More airport hubs are also possible in Africa with airline partners, Schmoll said.


In all the gloom, Dynami isn’t complaining


There are no complaints at air charter service provider Dyna- mi, at least if you speak to broker Stephane Charpentier. “We are looking for new


niche markets and to develop these, rather than competing with other charter services,” said Charpentier. Dynami is realigning its


focus back towards Europe and combining its service with that of other organisations, includ- ing sea freight companies, to offer more cost-effective char- ter services for its customers. “We have seen new business


The Middle East is not the


only emerging market for the company. Australia, whose air freight


sector is not without problems at the moment, has become a larger area of business for Dynami: “Especially in terms of oversized cargoes. We recent- ly transported a shipment of helicopter parts to Perth. “This is our key focus now.


and our door is always open to work with new partners,” added Charpentier. “We are doing more and more business in


15 October 2012


Charpentier - looking to develop new niche markets


the Middle East, and this is proving to be a new and profitable market for us.”


We need to and are becoming more creative, in rounding up new business. Creating new opportunities for new business partners. These include logis- tics solutions for customers.


They have the contract but cannot deliver the freight. Perhaps because of the country. But this is something we can now help with,” concluded Charpentier.


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